What Can I Expect from My Kitchen Installation?

In between visiting the kitchen showroom, seeing your kitchen design and using your dream kitchen is one crucial step – the messy bit!

Installation is part of the process with the most variables. It also creates the most disruption and can be a source of annoyance if you don’t know what to expect. You don’t buy a new kitchen every day. So even if you’ve had a kitchen installed in the past, you might have forgotten what exactly it entails. In essence, it is a mini construction project. And given the amount of money you are investing it is vital that it is done correctly and managed well.

Callerton Kitchens has succeeded for more than 40 years because we exceed our customers’ expectations. You come to us from across Newcastle and the North East for a quality experience, which includes installation. The kitchens we design and install will last for decades – but perfection requires patience! A good installation takes time.

In this article we will explore:

What takes place during a kitchen installation
How to prepare for a kitchen installation
Why communication and project management is important
Why start and end dates can be fluid

What Happens During a Kitchen Installation

There are typically several steps involved in every kitchen installation.

1. Removing The Existing Kitchen

You will need to rip out the old kitchen cabinets and worktops. For once, this can mean everything including the kitchen sink!

You might choose to do this yourself, but think about the time and safety aspects, as well as disposal. For example, are you comfortable in ensuring that the gas, water and electricity supplies are all properly disconnected and made safe?

2. New Flooring

If you are installing new flooring, this needs to be factored into your schedule depending on what flooring material you have chosen.

3. Installation

The installation will include delivery of all the cabinetry and other components, which professional installers will fit together on site. We will agree with you a start date and give you a general schedule of works, return visit dates and keep you updated as your project progresses. There are a number of key stages throughout your fit – getting worktop template ready for the worktop fabricator to come and template for your worktops and of course getting some of your appliances up and running for you as soon as possible if you require.

4. Completion and Sign-off

Upon completion of all works, you will be asked to sign off to confirm that you are happy with the finished product.

How to Prepare for a Kitchen Installation

As kitchen installation experts, we have compiled a few points to help you prepare for your installation and ensure it goes smoothly.

1. Clear The Decks

The installers will require clear routes to and from the kitchen. You might want to think about moving furniture out of the way and even taking down pictures, clocks, or decorations from the walls, just in case. Also make sure that other family members are aware – you don’t want kids dropping bags or bikes in the hallway, for example.

2. Make Room

You might need some storage space for the new kitchen components, ideally in a spare room or the garage if you’ve got one.

3. Empty The Kitchen

Take everything out of the kitchen – empty all the cabinets and drawers. This sounds obvious but you’d be amazed how easy it is to forget this step or leave it till the morning we arrive on site, which will delay removal of the old kitchen cabinetry.

4. Plan Alternative Meal Preparation

As much as we’d all love to live off takeaways, it is expensive and often not good for your health! So, think ahead about where you can prepare meals and what limits there are on your meal prep. For example, can you set up a fridge freezer elsewhere, so you’ve still got access to fresh milk and juice? You can even fill the freezer with ready meals that you can microwave to ensure everyone still gets some hot and nutritious food. An alternative could be a slow cooker or air fryer if you have the space.

5. Prepare for Dust

Almost any kind of building work in your home will generate dust and dirt. While our kitchen installers are super-considerate, there will be some dust ingress into other areas of your home. This is more of a mental preparation than a physical one – please accept that there will be dust and bear with the installation team as they do their best to minimise it.

The Importance of Good Communication

A high-quality kitchen company like Callerton Kitchens will provide project management during an installation. This ensures open communication lines and helps make a complex process more palatable. Our Installations team are your first point of contact and will manage the installers for you. Our installers have all worked with Callerton Kitchens and Interiors for many years and are familiar with our product and protocols!

Why Dates Can Change

One of the most common frustrations when it comes to a kitchen installation is that it did not start or end on time.

We will agree the start date with you but understand that this can change due to factors beyond your control. For example, the builders might not finish on time. Communicate with us as early as possible to help us reschedule.

Similarly, a kitchen installation can sometimes take longer than anticipated. These things are complex and often unforeseen challenges on site can appear once the installers get into the nitty gritty, which we will manage. We want to give you the very best possible kitchen and that takes time. We only work with selected installers who are extremely competent and experienced. They are working to provide the best fit for each kitchen component, meaning they are dealing with millimetres rather than inches. Rushing the installation is never a good idea!

Find Out More

Talk to us to find out more about what you can expect from a kitchen installation – or to arrange a consultation for your dream kitchen.

Paul Tappenden

30/07/2024

Brilliant company, look after their customers even several years later! All work top notch, and very professional! Five Star company 👍

Bridie Bates

16/02/2024

Some years ago I purchased a white high-gloss kitchen, which was superb in quality and style. In the last year or so, I began to notice yellowing/staining on most of the edges of the drawers and cupboards, and the kitchen began to look very unattractive. I contacted the company. They were extremely concerned and conducted a thorough investigation including back-tracking every stage of the manufacturing process, and discovered there was a fault in the gluing process at one of the suppliers. I was informed that all of the doors and cupboards would be replaced at no cost to me. I had anticipated, quite wrongly, that I would have difficulty getting replacements as the kitchen was out of guarantee. Callerton was determined to find out what had gone wrong in the manufacturing process of my kitchen, particularly with regard to it never happening again to any current or future customers. I was kept fully informed at every stage. I am delighted to say that my kitchen refit has taken place and is resplendent once again. This is customer service at the highest level and I cannot express my thanks to everyone involved for the effort they made to rectify the situation.

Ian Marley

23/01/2024

We had a Kitchen designed and fitted by Callerton Kitchens few years ago and we are very happy with the quality of the units and the installation. We recently discovered a problem with the tap when rust started appearing under the chrome. Things can and do go wrong. When this happens you want to have good customer service to get the issue resolved quickly. After a few years some companies might not have put in much effort to help. When I contacted Callerton Kitchens they were just as helpful and enthusiastic to help as they were when the kitchen was being fitted. They contacted the tap supplier who sent out a complementary replacement and Callerton Kitchens arranged for this to be fitted. Thanks to Lucy at Callerton Kitchens the tap is like new again. Many thanks for the outstanding customer service, something of a rarity today.

Christine Craig

30/11/2023

We were thrilled with the excellent service particular Francis who came up with fantastic designs, and is so talented. The quality of the kitchen are excellent. Fabulous service

Kurt Obermaier

14/11/2023

Imaginative design of a planned new kitchen lay-out for us by Callerton designer Francis Russell. Francis took great care in understanding our requirements and he produced several very good design options for us. Due to unforeseen circumstances however, sadly we were not able to proceed to implementation. We have no hesitation in recommending a visit to Callerton and their extensive showroom.

Phillipa Newton

09/05/2023

Great evening - really useful to see Bora products being used and taste some of the food cooked. Very much appreciated the opportunity to speak to others that attended about their experience as Callerton customers and also the chef regarding the appliances. As I was driving I didn't get to taste the wine but the event was well worth the journey.

yvonne bell

14/04/2023

Great friendly cookery demonstration evening hosted by Callerton and NEFF. Good way to help decide on appliances might be mostly useful. Food from the demo delicious too. Thanks

Debbie Matthews

18/02/2023

Outstanding service from the Berwick team from initial consultation to the finished kitchen. Mandy listened to what we wanted and suggested some great ideas that we hadn't thought of which we are delighted with. Excellent communication from Stacey throughout who kept us updated regarding delivery and instalation. Both Mandy and Stacey helped with our decision making which we are thrilled with. Roger provided expert craftsmanship as usual. We would definitely recommend Callerton at Berwick-upon- Tweed for a professional and dedicated service.

David Kelly

23/01/2023

A fantastic company! The team were a real pleasure to deal with and couldn’t do enough for us from the design process to the install. We’re thrilled with our new Callerton Kitchen and would highly recommend using them.